. . . 23 ritual murder victims on vengeance mission
NYANGA has suddenly become a reference zone for ritual murders as several families in the district come under immense torment by avenging spirits of more than 23 people who were butchered long back by business people who wanted to use the dead to enhance businesses.
Since January more than five appeasement ceremonies have been held in different villages in Chief Saunyama’s area.
Exorcist and traditional healer, Shingirai Mukotsanjera, who is working with community leaders to conduct the sessions, said 20 other ceremonies would be held before year end.
Recently, a session was held in Village Eight in Nyajezi Resettlement Scheme where the Samungure family was appeasing the spirit of Eva Mandikwaza who was killed in the same area in 2004.
Johannes Samungure killed Mandikwaza together with Israel Makape after the latter was approached by a local businessman (name withheld) to kill a human being and get body parts to enhance his supermarket and grinding mill.
Makape and Samungure cut Eva’s tongue, fingers, breasts, womb and brains before sucking her blood and became intimate with Eva’s corpse. They also handed over the body parts to the businessman.
Mukotsanjera often conversed with the deceased’s spirits in front of The Weekender journalists who were in attendance.
In another case, Gift Jonasi who is manifesting in one of Muche family members was allegedly killed by his uncle and aunt in 2000. He wants to be appeased with more than five beasts and money for groceries.
“I was killed by the Muche family in 2000. I was an orphan and was staying with them. They would beat and ill-treat me saying I was a menace and irritant. One day I stole some popcorn at school belonging to a friend since I was hungry and the teachers reported the matter to my uncle and aunt who beat me to death. I will continue to cause confusion and misfortunes to the Muche family till I am appeased with beasts,” said Jonasi manifesting through one of the Muche family members.
“The Muche family confessed to have committed the crime and said they were running around to get the beasts and we are waiting to hear from them,” said Mukotsanjera.
The Weekender also learnt that Simba Mashabangani was in 2000 allegedly murdered by David Mutandakamwe after an altercation ensued in a bar in Bulawayo. Simba said his clan was in South Africa and demanded that the Mutandakamwe family should name one of the babies in their clan Simba Mutandakamwe and construct a house for him. He also wants beasts and money for groceries.
Recently, the spirit of Paida Samanyika who committed suicide after she was ditched by Godfrey and David Dodzo who were siblings was appeased. The incident happened in 2004. Paida’s spirit manifested through Joy Dodzo, a relative of the culprits. Godfrey was dating Paida whom he later ditched after he had impregnated her. David also slept with Paida and dumped her. She committed suicide by consuming a pesticide, but later came back through Joy seeking appeasement. Her spirit was appeased with 10 beasts and $300.
The spirit of a Mozambican national, Peter Zhuwawo who was killed by a Nyanga couple, Wilson Ruwende and Margaret Ruwende-nee Doto to enhance their business is still restless.
Although the spirit, which is manifesting through Zhuwawo’s “wife” Maggie was appeased by the Doto family after killing 10 people, it is still restless, The Weekender has learnt.
Zhuwawo is yet to be appeased by the Ruwende family and he is bitter. The late Wilson was the mastermind of Peter Zhuwawo’s ritual murder.
His wife confessed to the murder saying she had also accompanied her husband to South Africa where they intended to handover Zhuwawo’s private parts to enhance their business. She revealed that they committed the ritual murder to enhance their grinding mill and retail business. It, however, failed to work according to their plan.
“The Ruwende family is taking me for granted. I will cause more damage if they delay in appeasing me. I want beasts and $400,” said Zhuwawo, speaking through Maggie.
Mukotsanjera, a renowned exorcist who can call up a spirit to speak out, said the avenging spirits usually manifest in people whenever there is an appeasement ceremony. He gives them red robes which they wear during the ceremony.
“They gather during the avenging spirit appeasement ceremonies saying tirikuda kuperekedza mumwe wedu. They feel so comfortable when such events happen because in their respective clans their spirits will be suppressed (anenge akatsipikwa nehama dzevanhu vanenge vakabata-bata). We have a lot of pending cases which we are yet to handle. Some processes would be delayed because families of killers would be raising funds to buy whatever the spirit of the murdered would have asked for. Once they are clad in red, vanotanga kubudirwa,” said Mukotsanjera.
Acting Chief Saunyama, said: “Mukotsanjera has played a critical role in exorcising avenging spirits which would have caused a number of deaths and misfortunes in families. We engaged him since my court was being besieged with families who are seeking recourse. I should make it clear that mushonga wengozi kuripa and we would like to urge families directly or indirectly affected by the ritual killings to always appease the avenging spirits.”